In this course, we use field observations and experiments in concert with NRE 415 lectures to examine the problem of how environmental factors influence the ways in which organisms live and behave (natural selection theory). We integrate observation and theory, always in the context of hypothesis testing. In observing organisms, you will deal with two (2) major problems: (1) How can you decipher exactly what you are seeing, quantify it, and communicate it to others so that they can repeat and expand your observations; and (2) How can you determine the functional significance of each behavior, distinguishing between proximate and ultimate causes, and testing between alternate hypotheses in a rigorous way? In this course, we will be doing animal ethograms to help answer these questions as well as graphing and statistical analyses of data.